The Travelling Argument

"It seems our resident singing scout has lost it," said Valhalla.

"I can't go back! I can't go back! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! Touch me and I'll deep fry your hooves off!

Stay back! I know what you're planning! And I'll not have one second of it!" screamed Maboo crazily.

Valhalla tried to step closer to Maboo, but she had begun flailing her hooves all over the place, not allowing anypony to touch her. "Maboo, no one is trying to hurt you. Slow down before you hurt someone."

"Maboo, just calm down, we won't be here very long. Just breathe," said Willow.

"Yeah, just a few days for my weapon. Can you show us around?" asked Evening.

Maboo continued to panic. "Can't breathe, can't breathe! Gotta hide before they find me!"

"Who finds you? What are you talking about?" asked Valhalla.

"The madpony, she will not get to me too! Not like you!" yelled Maboo.

"Maboo, I'm afraid you leave me no choice." Valhalla pulled out a small circular sticker and quickly slapped it onto Maboo's neck. She immediately froze in place.

"Oh yes papa, that feels... lovely." Maboo collapsed in the middle of the street, completely unconscious.

Valhalla sighed. "We should get her inside, maybe if she's in a more enclosed environment she can give us some answers about her behavior."

"What was that, Valhalla? It looks useful," said Willow.

"I'll carry her, I'm probably the strongest one here," said Evening, lowering herself next to Maboo. "Just, um, help her into my back. My magic isn't that strong."

Valhalla helped Maboo onto Evening's back. "That was a special invention of mine. The stickers have a specially brewed toxin on them that quickly works on making creatures fall asleep. Similar to Sky Runner's darts, but the stickers lets me keep the creatures incapacitated as long as I wish. She will wake up as soon as I take it off. Unfortunately they are a one time use, and I only have about three left."

"I don't suppose you can teach me how to make more, can you? I can see many applications for it," said Willow curiously.

"So uh... Where do I take her?" asked Evening.

Swift made her way back to the group, hardly acknowledging the commotion that had taken place. "The nearest inn is that way. We can worry about other things later. Move!"

"Okay! I'll go on ahead!" Evening looked down the street and began charging towards the nearest inn.

Willow looked at Evening with worry and flew after her. "Hold up! You still don't know enough about money! Wait for me!"

"Of money troubles I have no doubt, thankfully Maboo keeps such things about," said Valhalla. He quickly cleared his throat. "Maboo should have enough bits for an inn. I'm sure she would understand if we used her money in this circumstance. And of course I could show you how to make some stickers. After we get a room we should take a look around the markets for the right ingredients."

Evening ran into the inn and stepped up to the front desk, the innkeeper being an old mare. "Hello? I'd like a room. Or maybe two. There are six of us," Evening dropped a bag of gems onto the desk. "Is this enough?"

The innkeeper looked at her in confusion. "Eh? What you say, dearie?"

"My friends need a place to sleep. Maboo fell asleep, and... you can't hear me, can you? ROOM! PLEASE! GEMS!"

The innkeeper rubbed her ears and collected some of the gems from the bag. "Sheesh, you don't need to yell. Last two doors on the right, dear."

"Thank you." Evening walked down a hall and entered one of the doors. A nice room with a set of beds was inside. She carried Maboo and rolled her onto one of them. "Here you go, Maboo. Nice comfy bed."

Evening came back to the front as Valhalla, Willow and Swift finally showed up.

"Did you get us rooms?" asked Swift.

"Yes, two. Last two doors on the right. I put Maboo on one of the beds already," answered Evening.

Before they went to enter their new rooms a small dragon appeared from around the corner, he cautiously the group. "Ummm... excuse me. You look like a group of adventurers."

"Of sorts. Why do you ask, little dragon?" asked Valhalla.

Swift looked at the dragon, and immediately her face filled with fear, quickly followed by anger and short after indifference.

Willow noticed the assassin. "Swift Blade... what's wrong?" She extended a hoof to try and comfort her.

Swift pulled away. "I'm fine."

The dragon backed away in fear. "I, uh... perhaps... no, I have to ask," The dragon took a deep breath and spoke more confidently. "My sister was taken by these really scary dudes, and now I have nothing. I was going to go fight them myself but then I realized that... well. I am just a small dragon and they would tear me to shreds."

"Really scary dudes? Could you describe them? What sort of creatures they were?" asked Valhalla.

Willow still held her attention towards Swift. "You look pale. Is it the dragon?"

Swift sighed. "A story for another time. I told you, I'm fine."

"Well, they were big, and angry. They looked like... like Diamond Dogs," explained the dragon.

"I am not sure how much we would be able to help. Our friend Maboo is in a bit of a state, and our pegasus thief seems to have vanished. Have you not told the guards what happened to your sister?" asked Valhalla.

"Well, I did... but they said something about it being gang affiliated and that they wouldn't be able to help. See my dad is... well he's a gem dealer, and- None of that matters though! My sister and I ran away from him because we didn't want to be a part of that!" The dragon sighed. "I am sorry that I bothered you, perhaps I should deal with it myself."

"Can we help him? Please? It sounds like fun!" said Evening.

"If you and any other wish to help, I won't object. I believe I should stay to tend to Maboo. She will need plenty of care when she wakes up, those stickers come with a few... side effects," said Valhalla.

The dragon looked up with hope. "Really? You will help? Oh, thank you. They went out of the town to the north. From what I remember, my father said they have a "lair" of some sort not too far from here."

"I suppose I've got nothing better to do with my life. Very well," said Swift.

Willow looked between the dragon, Evening and Valhalla, debating in her mind where she wanted to be. She finally looked at Valhalla. "I want to stay behind too."

"I must dictate otherwise. We will need at least one healer in the event of injury, plus you have proven most capable of reining in Evening."

"What do you mean, Swift Blade?" asked Evening.

"I may wish to question one of them, and there's no use in trying if they're dead," explained Swift.

"I'm working on the restraint technique that Willow's been teaching me. It just doesn't come as easily as the rest."

The dragon smiled. "Alright! I might get my sister back soon! Um... If you all don't need to rest first, that is."

"Go Willow, they will need your assistance. I will remain and nurse Maboo back to health, I expect she will have a story to tell when you return," said Valhalla.

Valhalla walked into the room where Maboo was laid, but Willow quickly followed in behind. "Then I want to study under you when I get back. I won't take no for an answer, Valhalla," she said.

"Of course Willow. While you are away I shall gather the supplies needed to make some new stickers and a special painkiller elixir," replied Valhalla as he put a cloth over Maboo's forehead.

"Thank you! That means a lot to me-" CRASH! "-What was that? Where's Evening? Or Swift Blade?"

"It's possible Sky has returned. She does have a way of making an entrance. Go and see, I will wake up Maboo if necessary."

"Okay, if I know Sky and Evening..." Willow shuddered, then quickly flew back down the hall. "SKY RUNNER!"